2008 Annual Hawke Lecture
The Greatest Injustice: why we have failed to improve the health of
Aboriginal people
Delivered by Professor Fiona Stanley AC
Adelaide Town Hall, Thursday 6 November 2008
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Audio transcript available (mp3 26MB)
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Written transcript available (pdf format)
Broadcast by ABC Radio National Big Ideas on Sunday 14 December at 5pm and repeated on Saturday 20 December at 7pm. Video also available on ABC FORA.
A former Australian of the Year, Professor Stanley is head of the
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and recognised for her
commitment to child health and her leadership of key policy changes. Her
concerns about current social impacts on young people are well-known.
Abstract
The high suicide rates in young Aboriginal people in Fitzroy Crossing in
the Kimberley region of Western Australia in recent years prompted a
Coronial Inquiry, which met for several months in 2007 with the Coroner,
Alastair Hope, delivering his final report in February 2008. I was called to
give evidence to the inquiry because of my Institute's long-standing
research and interest in Aboriginal health and well being. It gave me an
opportunity to summarise not only our research and that of others here and
overseas, but to make the case for major government investment to improve
Aboriginal outcomes in Australia more generally. Hence I aim to share with
you my "manifesto"!
The frustrating and anguishing thing is that we have known what we need to
do for 20 years; the evidence has been around in Royal Commissions, HREOC
reports, a myriad of government reports as well as our research papers. How
to implement is the major issue. Other countries with Indigenous colonised
populations have similar problems but are doing much better than Australia -
what can we learn from them? Suicides, child abuse and neglect, domestic
violence and substance abuse are all outcomes - hence a better understanding
of causal pathways to enable effective prevention is crucial to effective
long and medium term strategies. But what do we do to help so many damaged
kids now? Most deaths in young people are avoidable and we have the
knowledge to prevent them. However, Aboriginal human capacity is limited -
over 50% of their population is aged under 20 years, over 30% of births are
to girls aged under 19 and for each Aboriginal child there is on average
only one adult compared with other Australian kids who average three. And
many of the Aboriginal adults are sick, mentally ill, in prison or in need
of care themselves. This depleted human capability needs to be factored into
any service planning which demands Aboriginal participation.
A major and continuing aspect, which has never been appropriately
acknowledged or managed, is the effect of the Stolen Generation. Our data
document clearly the extent and impacts of the forced removal of children
from families and people from land on today's children. I believe that this
factor is a major explanation for much of today's dis-ease in Aboriginal
populations. The Canadians have set up a major healing initiative some years
ago, which we in Australia should consider.
The most sustainable and important recommendation I want to discuss relate
to how we enhance an effective Aboriginal workforce as not only does that
bring economic power to families, but also raises self esteem and longer
term success. I will discuss all these and leave you with a commitment and a
sense of hope that we can and must collectively tackle this major human
rights issue in Australia.
Biography
Professor Fiona Stanley AC
FAA, FASSA, MSc, MD, FFPHM, FAFPHM, FRACP,
FRANZCOG, Hon DSc, Hon DUniv, Hon FRACGP, Hon MD, Hon FRCPCH
Director, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
Chair, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
Professor, School of Paediatrics and Child Health
University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Professor Stanley is the Founding Director of the Telethon Institute for
Child Health Research; Chair of the Australian Research Alliance for
Children and Youth; and Professor, School of Paediatrics and Child Health at
the University of Western Australia. Trained in maternal and child health
epidemiology and public health, Professor Stanley has spent her career
researching the causes of major childhood illnesses such as birth defects.
Her research includes the gathering and analysis of population data for
epidemiological and public health research; the causes and prevention of
birth defects and major neurological disorders, particularly the cerebral
palsies; patterns of maternal and child health in Aboriginal and Caucasian
populations; various ways of determining the developmental origins of health
and disease; collaborations to link research, policy and practice; and
strategies to enhance health and well-being in populations. Her major
contribution has been to establish the Telethon Institute for Child Health
Research, a unique multidisciplinary independent research institute
focussing on the causes and prevention of major problems affecting children
and youth. She sits on the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and
Innovation Council as well as the Australian Statistics Advisory Council.
For her research on behalf of Australia's children, she was named Australian
of the Year in 2003 and in 2006 she was made a UNICEF Australia Ambassador
for Early Childhood Development.
About the Hawke Centre
The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre is a dynamic University of South Australia initiative to establish an internationally recognised public learning/visitor and research facility serving young people, national and international scholars and local and global audiences.
Named after Bob Hawke, a third generation South Australian, one of the 20th century's most notable Prime Ministers (1983-1991) and a great conciliator nationally and abroad, the Hawke Centre was established by Memorandum of Understanding in 1997. UniSA has developed the Centre believing that that Bob Hawke's contribution should be properly recognised through a national facility, not as a memorial, but in a way that helps young Australians and furthers his legacy of valuing a cohesive and fair Australia.
A new building designed by architect John Wardle to house the Centre's forum space, Civic Gallery, auditorium and Hawke Library will open in July 2007.
Broadly, the Hawke Centre aims to challenge Australians to consider ideas and develop solutions for Australia and the world, leading towards more sustainable societies, within a democratic framework. It is supported by a fine group of national patrons, and especially, international patron Nelson Mandela.
The Annual Hawke Lecture is the premier national event on the public calendar of the University of South Australia, delivered under the auspices of the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre. There are relatively few moments when we have the time to consider the larger issues of life, including the future of our nation and our world and how we can shape it. The University of South Australia offers the Annual Hawke Lecture in this spirit, as an opportunity to listen to the views of someone whose experience of human affairs is notable, and whose concerns about our world are truly worthy of consideration.
Past lecturers
1998 The Hon Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia
1999 Sir Zelman Cowen, former Governor General of Australia
2000 Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Managing Director, World Bank
2001 Sir Gustav Nossal, distinguished Australian scientist
2002 Mr Noel Pearson, Aboriginal activist
2003 The Hon Gareth Evans, President of the International Crisis Group
2004 Ms Irene Khan, Secretary General, Amnesty International
2005 Mr Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF-Australia
2006 Mr Greg Combet, Secretary, ACTU
2007 The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG
Contact
Ms Elizabeth Ho
Director
The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, University of South Australia
Ph: 08 8302 0651 Mobile: 0417 085 585 Email:
Elizabeth.ho@unisa.edu.au
While the views presented by speakers within the Hawke Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia or The Hawke Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: strengthening our democracy – valuing our cultural diversity – and building our future.